Finding a right addiction rehab in Toronto is important, but it is equally important to stay motivated throughout your treatment. You need to push yourself hard to get good results. You will have to do so many things at the same time. While it is important to be vigilant during all those therapy sessions, it is equally important to take your medications to treat drug addiction.
You will have to take different medications depending on what type of addiction you have or how severe the addiction is. For instance:
- You will have to take medications to deal with your withdrawal symptoms. You are likely to experience strong withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Not being able to manage those symptoms could easily lead to a relapse. Understand that detoxification is not really the treatment, but it is only the first step leading to addiction treatment. About 80% of addicts require some type of medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. If you are asked to take medications during addiction rehab in Toronto, be sure to take them as instructed.
- You will need to take medications to prevent a relapse. There will be specific changes in your brain when you start to take drugs. You can take certain medications to help decrease cravings and restore normal brain function. A number of medications are available for treatment of tobacco, opioid, and alcohol addiction. New medications may soon be available to treat stimulant addiction, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
It is important to point out that you may have to take more than one medication, especially when you use more than one drug. Some of the most common medications used to treat opioid addiction include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. These medications work on the same areas in your brain as morphine and heroin and therefore help suppress withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone is another good option because it helps blocks the negative effects of opioids; however, your healthcare provider may prescribe it only when you have already gone through the detoxification stage. Taking these medications may also help you become more open to behavioural treatments.
Similarly, you will have to rely on nicotine replacement therapies in different forms, such as the spray, patch, lozenges, and gum. You can find these products without prescription but they are not going to help with serious tobacco addiction. Bupropion is a good option because it prevents relapse in people who may be trying to quick tobacco. It is important to combine these medications with behavioural treatments though to get better results.
Finally, you may have to take medications for any co-occurring conditions. You will be evaluated during addiction rehab Toronto for any underlying mental disorder you may have. In case of any problem, your healthcare provider will prescribe medications to keep things under control. It is more common to take medications for mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Be sure to take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
